BOSTON – Here are five thoughts from the first period with the Bruins leading the New York Rangers 3-0 after the first 20 minutes of play at TD Garden:
1) The Bruins build their first 3-0, first-period lead of the season. Plus, they do just about everything right along the way. They got a long, loud ovation from the crowd as they left the ice, and it was much closer to Bruins hockey than much of the stuff that has been happening on the ice this season.
2) Two goals for Milan Lucic, who had two goals for the entire month of March headed into this afternoon’s game. The first was a Henrik Lundqvist rebound of a Patrice Bergeron shot that Lucic turned his skate blade, and redirected the puck back into the open net. It was ruled no goal on the ice, but video review determined it was a good goal video review because “the puck deflected off Milan Lucic's skate and into the net in a legal fashion. According to Rule 49.2 "A puck that deflects into the net off an attacking player's skate who does not use a distinct kicking motion is a legitimate goal." The NHL changed the rule headed into this season, and now allows the opening up of the skate blade to direct pucks into the net. It’s not only a “distinct kicking motion”, like punting a puck into the net,that will be called no goal. Many people in New York crying about the call, but that’s been a good goal all season as Lucic only moved his skate blade with his momentum going to the net pushing the puck into the open area past Lundqvist.
3) A big goal for Carl Soderberg to make it 3-0 when he stole a puck from Matt Hunwick at the blue line, and then dangled in past the Rangers defense before firing a puck past King Henrik for his second goal in 29 games.
4) Three shots on net, two goals, a plus-2 rating and three hits for Lucic in the first period. This is the most energy, emotion and effectiveness that he’s shown in a while, and the Bruins are a different team when he’s going. Claude Julien challenged the Lucic-Spooner-Pastrnak line saying they had zero scoring chances five-on-five against Anaheim, and that changed significantly on Saturday afternoon.
5) Tough start for Lundqvist in his first appearance in a couple of months coming back from a neck injury, who is running into a buzz-saw with the Bruins that’s not really his fault. At least he’s getting a good workout.